Player fines to go to charity

By Lyall JohnsonJuly 09 2003

Fines from lesser on-field offences such as wrestling and melees will be used to fund the work of the AFL Foundation, a charitable body announced by the league yesterday.

In launching the foundation, which in effect is a re-launch of the existing yet dormant AFL Foundation, chief executive Wayne Jackson said the $67,500 collected from the round-six melee between St Kilda and Western Bulldogs players would be the first donation.

This donation would be matched dollar for dollar by the Pratt Foundation and divided evenly between the three recipients - beyondblue, the MS Society, and the World Vision Indigenous Program. The foundation is expected to next year extend the supported charities to a national level.

Jackson said the league would use various methods of raising money for the foundation but each year would give up to $100,000 from player fines.

The initiative follows an idea raised with the AFL by Kangaroo hard man Glenn Archer earlier this year. Archer last year successfully petitioned the AFL to have a wrestling fine he incurred (along with one he paid on behalf of the Bulldogs' Ben Harrison) to his local Dandenong District Junior Football League, which gave Archer his start in football and was struggling against a hike in public liability insurance premiums.");document.write("

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The new AFL Foundation was a recognition of the unique place the AFL had in Australian society as the governing body of the nation's only indigenous sport, Jackson said.

"(Football) does play an important and central role in the broader community and the communities associated with Australian football," Jackson said.

"This role sees a celebration of what we see as true Australian spirit - helping each other out, treating each other fairly, looking out for one another and they are also the qualities at the heart of the AFL Foundation."

The AFL launched the foundation yesterday as part of its charity round scheduled for the coming weekend.